How to Make a Green Tea, Milk and Oatmeal Face Mask

Commercial beauty products can be both expensive and toxin laden. Making your own beauty products can allow you to save money and limit your exposure to toxins. The following face mask recipe is easy to make; I designed it specifically to target acne while tightening and toning skin.

You will need the following utensils and containers to prepare this recipe: one large mixing bowl able to hold at least three cups of liquid; large plastic or metal stirring spoon; measuring cup; 1 tablespoon; mixer or blender or herb grinder for grinding oatmeal; 1 soft washcloth.

You will also need the following ingredients to prepare this recipe: 1 cup finely ground oatmeal; 2 tablespoons loose green tea; 1/3 cup whole milk.

Begin making this recipe by placing the oatmeal in a mixer, blender or herb grinder. Grind the oatmeal until it is a fine powder; in a mixer or blender this usually takes 1 to 2 minutes to accomplish. When a pinch of the oatmeal will float on the surface of a cup of water it will be ready for use in this recipe. Oatmeal ground so finely it floats on water is called colloidal oatmeal and it used often in commercial beauty care preparations because of its skin softening and refreshing properties. It also calms skin and combats acne.

After grinding the oatmeal into colloidal oatmeal place the powder in the mixing bowl and add the 1/3 cup of whole milk. Be sure to use whole milk because the fat content contains an abundant amount of lactic acid; this soothes and moisturizes skin. It is also germicidal helping rid your skin of acne. Skim and 2% milk will work in a pinch just not as well as whole milk. Stir the blend well after adding the milk; if it is too thick for your taste add a few more tablespoons of milk to the blend and stir again.

Once you have blended the oatmeal powder and the milk add two tablespoons of loose green tea to the face mask blend and stir the mixture thoroughly. Green tea is naturally high in both caffeine and tannic acid. Caffeine will help tighten and tone giving a boost to sluggish skin. Tannic acid also helps to tighten and tone skin while binding to toxins leaving your skin with a healthy glow.

Allow the mask to set for about ten minutes in the refrigerator before you use it.

To use this mask first cleanse your face with the cleanser of your choice and very warm water. This will help remove dirt and oil while opening your pores allowing the mask to work better.

After washing your face apply a thick layer of the mask to your face. Leave the mask on for about ten minutes. Soak the soft washcloth with warm water, wring it out and use it to remove the face mask using small, slow circular motions. Finish removing the mask by rinsing your face with cold water.

Preparing the recipe with the stated proportions will yield about 1 1/2 cups, enough for masks. You can store the finished face mask in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Take Care! Many natural ingredients can cause allergic reactions in people that use them. Avoid any ingredients that you know you are allergic to and discontinue using any formulations that cause skin irritation, hives or other signs of an allergic reaction.